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1,200 Minnesota First Responders Trained by BNSF This Year

BNSF Railway announced today it has trained 1,200 Minnesota first
responders in community hazmat training sessions held throughout the
state this year and the railroad is sending another 130 Minnesota
firefighters to specialized crude by rail training at the national
railroad research and training facility in Pueblo, CO. Those classes
began in July and continue through the end of the year. Firefighters
from several communities, including St. Paul, Minneapolis, Brainerd (News - Alert),
Winona, Long Lake, Moorhead, Detroit Lakes, Perham and Little Falls have
already returned from the Colorado training. Raw video footage from the
three-day training class is available at: http://www.vimeo.com/BNSFRailway/training

BNSF Railway is underwriting the travel and training expenses for more
than 750 first responders across its network for the 2014 training
season to help ensure first responders are well-equipped to address the
unique characteristics associated with the movement of crude-by-rail.
Providing training at the national center is one of the steps the
railroad agreed to voluntarily earlier this year in its ongoing efforts
to improve the safety of crude-by-rail and to work with communities on
emergency preparedness.

For decades BNSF has held the community hazmat training exercises for
first responders. On average BNSF trains 3,500 local first responders
each year across its network, with 65,000 responders trained since 1996.
In Minnesota this year, BNSF worked with 1,200 first responders in over
20 training sessions throughout the state.

About BNSF

BNSF Railway is one of North America's leading freight transportation
companies operating on 32,500 route miles of track in 28 states and two
Canadian provinces. BNSF is one of the top transporters of consumer
goods, grain, and agricultural products, low-sulfur coal and industrial
goods such as petroleum, chemicals, housing materials, food and
beverages. BNSF's shipments help feed, clothe, supply, and power
American homes and businesses every day. BNSF and its employees have
developed one of the most technologically advanced, and efficient
railroads in the industry. We work continuously to improve the value of
the safety, service, energy, and environmental benefits we provide to
our customers and the communities we serve. You can learn more about
BNSF at www.BNSF.com.